Monday, May 04, 2015

keeping it holy and making it a delight

I don't lead a particularly stressful life, but I've had more on my plate than usual lately and it has started to affect my well-being. At times this last week I was sick to my stomach with worry and pressure and discouragement. I was feeling overwhelmed. I thought that if I could just hang on until Sunday, I would be ok. Because on Sunday I could rest from my labors. I could forget about the work I had to do, and focus instead on the things of the spirit. So, I thought Elder Nelson's "The Sabbath is a Delight" was appropriate for this week's conference report. Truly, this past Sabbath was a delight to me.

Elder Nelson calls Sunday a "day of personal healing" and "much needed relief". The bible tells us that "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath." Elder Nelson teaches that this means that the Sabbath is a gift to us, "granting real respite from the rigors of daily life and an opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor but for a rest from duty, with physical and spiritual relief."

I think we all have to decide for ourselves how we will keep the Sabbath day holy. But Elder Nelson gives some good advice about this. He says, "In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and to not do on the Sabbath. It wasn't until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don'ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, 'What sign do I want to give to God?' That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear."

I look forward to Sunday because I can forget about my week day responsibilities for a little bit. I can focus on my family and on my testimony. I can rest and recharge. I find that limiting my activities on this day helps me to look ahead to the next week and better plan and manage my work load. I like that my kids spend the day together without outside distractions. I enjoy attending church. We always eat dinner with Mike's parents. These are the things that make the Sabbath a delight to me.

hi, i'm stephanie

i am a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a collector of white cake plates, a seamstress, and a want-to-be runner. i live in arizona, where the sun always shines, and the winters are a dream. i blog about my life at home. it's a good life, and i am happy.